US8851377B2 - Card reader and processing method thereof - Google Patents

Card reader and processing method thereof Download PDF

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Publication number
US8851377B2
US8851377B2 US12/666,194 US66619409A US8851377B2 US 8851377 B2 US8851377 B2 US 8851377B2 US 66619409 A US66619409 A US 66619409A US 8851377 B2 US8851377 B2 US 8851377B2
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Prior art keywords
card
magnetic
magnetic head
transparent
sensors
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US12/666,194
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US20110084138A1 (en
Inventor
Fumihiko Akahane
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Nidec Instruments Corp
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Nidec Sankyo Corp
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Assigned to NIDEC SANKYO CORPORATION reassignment NIDEC SANKYO CORPORATION ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: AKAHANE, FUMIHIKO
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
    • G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
    • G11B5/00—Recording by magnetisation or demagnetisation of a record carrier; Reproducing by magnetic means; Record carriers therefor
    • G11B5/008—Recording on, or reproducing or erasing from, magnetic tapes, sheets, e.g. cards, or wires
    • G11B5/00804—Recording on, or reproducing or erasing from, magnetic tapes, sheets, e.g. cards, or wires magnetic sheets
    • G11B5/00808—Recording on, or reproducing or erasing from, magnetic tapes, sheets, e.g. cards, or wires magnetic sheets magnetic cards
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
    • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
    • G06K13/00—Conveying record carriers from one station to another, e.g. from stack to punching mechanism
    • G06K13/02—Conveying record carriers from one station to another, e.g. from stack to punching mechanism the record carrier having longitudinal dimension comparable with transverse dimension, e.g. punched card
    • G06K13/08—Feeding or discharging cards
    • G06K13/0843—Feeding or discharging cards from or back into the same magazine
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
    • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
    • G06K7/00—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns
    • G06K7/08—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by means detecting the change of an electrostatic or magnetic field, e.g. by detecting change of capacitance between electrodes
    • G06K7/082—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by means detecting the change of an electrostatic or magnetic field, e.g. by detecting change of capacitance between electrodes using inductive or magnetic sensors
    • G06K7/087—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by means detecting the change of an electrostatic or magnetic field, e.g. by detecting change of capacitance between electrodes using inductive or magnetic sensors flux-sensitive, e.g. magnetic, detectors
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
    • G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
    • G11B17/00—Guiding record carriers not specifically of filamentary or web form, or of supports therefor
    • G11B17/02—Details
    • G11B17/04—Feeding or guiding single record carrier to or from transducer unit
    • G11B17/0408—Feeding or guiding single record carrier to or from transducer unit of non-disc record carrier, e.g. card
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
    • G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
    • G11B25/00—Apparatus characterised by the shape of record carrier employed but not specific to the method of recording or reproducing, e.g. dictating apparatus; Combinations of such apparatus
    • G11B25/04—Apparatus characterised by the shape of record carrier employed but not specific to the method of recording or reproducing, e.g. dictating apparatus; Combinations of such apparatus using flat record carriers, e.g. disc, card
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
    • G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
    • G11B5/00—Recording by magnetisation or demagnetisation of a record carrier; Reproducing by magnetic means; Record carriers therefor
    • G11B5/74—Record carriers characterised by the form, e.g. sheet shaped to wrap around a drum
    • G11B5/80—Card carriers
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
    • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
    • G06K7/00—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns
    • G06K7/08—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by means detecting the change of an electrostatic or magnetic field, e.g. by detecting change of capacitance between electrodes
    • G06K7/082—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by means detecting the change of an electrostatic or magnetic field, e.g. by detecting change of capacitance between electrodes using inductive or magnetic sensors
    • G06K7/083—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by means detecting the change of an electrostatic or magnetic field, e.g. by detecting change of capacitance between electrodes using inductive or magnetic sensors inductive
    • G06K7/084—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by means detecting the change of an electrostatic or magnetic field, e.g. by detecting change of capacitance between electrodes using inductive or magnetic sensors inductive sensing magnetic material by relative movement detecting flux changes without altering its magnetised state
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
    • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
    • G06K7/00—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns
    • G06K7/10—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a card reader including a magnetic head and a processing method of the card reader, and particularly to detection of a card position in a card path.
  • the card reader reads magnetic data saved in the magnetic card and writes new magnetic data into the magnetic card through making the magnetic head come into contact with, and slide on the magnetic stripe on the magnetic card surface. Also, the card reader reads electronic data saved in the IC card and writes new electronic data into the IC card through making its IC contact come into contact with the metal terminal (IC terminal) on the IC card surface.
  • an optical sensor is used for detecting a card position in a card path, in order that the sensitivity of the sensor is not influenced by any of the surrounding magnetic environment, environmental temperature, and humidity. Therefore, when such a non-standardized transparent card described above is inserted and transferred in the card reader, a light beam passes through the transparent area so that it is difficult for the card position detecting sensor of an optical type to detect a card position. Due to the reason, a CPU may have a chance of missing the card position (As a result, the card reader may become unable to operate normally).
  • Patent Document 1 a technology for recognizing a transparent card appropriately by devising a new means on the card has also appeared (Refer to Patent Document 1).
  • a transparent card disclosed in Patent Document 1 special ink is applied between a front-side coat and a rear-side coat of the card to overcome a problem that a financial automated teller machine (ATM) cannot read data of the transparent card.
  • ATM financial automated teller machine
  • Patent Document 1 Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 2004-145
  • a card reader may include a card path through which a card having a magnetic stripe is transferred; a magnetic head placed in the card path; and card position detecting sensors for detecting a position of the card; wherein the card position detecting sensors are located at positions where the magnetic stripe passes through in the card path.
  • the card reader includes a card path, a magnetic head, and card position detecting sensors; and the card position detecting sensors are located at positions where the magnetic stripe of the card passes through in the card path.
  • the magnetic head and the card position detecting sensors are placed along the magnetic stripe almost in the same straight line.
  • the card reader determines that a non-standardized transparent card has been inserted or the card has been taken out, so as to eventually carry out an ejecting operation for removing the card forcibly.
  • the card reader determines that a non-standardized transparent card has been inserted or the card has been taken out, so as to eventually carry out an ejecting operation for removing the card forcibly.
  • the card reader determines that a non-standardized transparent card has been inserted or the card has been taken out, so as to eventually carry out an ejecting operation for removing the card forcibly.
  • the card reader determines that a non-standardized transparent card has been inserted or the card has been taken out, so as to eventually carry out an ejecting operation for removing the card forcibly.
  • not only the card position detecting sensors but also the magnetic head are used for detecting the card position. Therefore, by adjusting location intervals of the card position detecting sensors and the magnetic head (which are placed almost in a straight line), it becomes possible to detect the card position even when
  • the type and the number of the ‘card position detecting sensors’ do not matter.
  • the sensors may be any of optical sensors, magnetic sensors, and ultrasonic sensors.
  • the number of the sensors may be one, or two or more.
  • the card position detecting sensors it is necessary for the card position detecting sensors to include at least one sensor located at a position where the magnetic stripe passes through in the card path, this requirement does not reject existence of other sensors that are not placed at positions where the magnetic stripe passes through.
  • At least one of the card position detecting sensors described above is placed at a side of a card insertion slot for inserting the card, with reference to the position of the magnetic head; while at least another one of the card position detecting sensors is also placed at a side of a downstream in a card transfer direction, with reference to the position of the magnetic head. Therefore, even in the case of a card reader in which the magnetic head is located around a middle part of the card path, the card position can be detected appropriately by using the magnetic head, the card position detecting sensor placed before the magnetic head in the view from the card insertion slot, and the card position detecting sensor placed after the magnetic head.
  • a processing method of the card reader including: reproducing/recording data from/to the magnetic stripe on the card inserted through the card insertion slot; transferring the inserted card through the card path by a transfer means driven by a drive source; and detecting the position of the card according to detection signals from the plurality of card position detecting sensors located in the card path, for controlling the transfer operation; wherein the card position detecting sensors include a sensor that is placed in a line through which the magnetic stripe passes, and a sensor that is placed in the proximity of the magnetic head; and while, by using a detection signal from one of the magnetic head and the sensor placed in the proximity of the magnetic head, it is judged that the inserted card is a normal card, and the operation continues.
  • the card position detecting sensors include a sensor that is placed in a line through which the magnetic stripe passes, and a sensor that is placed in the proximity of the magnetic head; and while, by using a detection signal from one of the magnetic head and the sensor placed in the proximity of the magnetic head, it is judged that the inserted card is a normal card that can carry out recording/reproducing data appropriately, and the operation continues for carrying out recording/reproducing magnetic/electronic data and the like. Therefore, even in the case of a non-standardized transparent card, an operation can continue as far as possible. As a result, the card reader according to at least an embodiment of the present invention makes it possible to flexibly deal with diversification of customer needs.
  • the relationship of the positions of the magnetic head and the card position detecting sensors is so schemed that the card reader can meet the customer needs to a certain extent even when a non-standardized transparent card is inserted.
  • FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional plan view showing a structure of a card reader according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the structure of the card reader according to the embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIGS. 3(A)-3(C) are timing charts that show timing of a detection signal of each sensor turning on.
  • FIGS. 4( a )- 4 ( k ) show transfer motion of a card practically moving through a card path.
  • FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a workflow of a processing method of the card reader according to the embodiment.
  • FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a workflow of the processing method of the card reader according to the embodiment.
  • FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional plan view showing a structure of a card reader 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the structure of the card reader 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention.
  • each arrow in FIG. 2 shows a position of its corresponding reference numeral indicated in FIG. 1
  • the card reader 1 includes: a card insertion slot 3 for taking a card (one of a magnetic card and an IC card) into a card path 2 and then inserting the card into the card reader 1 ; a pre-head 4 for transmitting a signal that works as a trigger for driving operation of a drive motor 11 to be described later; a lever 6 protruding through a card path side plate 5 into the card path 2 ; a micro switch 7 for detecting mechanical motion of the lever 6 ; photo sensors 8 a to 8 e for the purpose of such as checking a position of the card in the card path 2 and length of the card, the photo sensors being placed so as to face photodiodes (not shown); an IC contact block mechanism 9 for sending/receiving electronic data to/from the IC card when the IC card being inserted; a magnetic head 10 for recording/reproducing magnetic data to/from the magnetic card when the magnetic card being inserted; the drive motor 11 (shown as a card insertion slot 3 for taking a card (one of
  • the pre-head 4 detects the card taken in and transmits a signal, which works as a trigger for driving operation of the drive motor 11 , to a CPU (not shown) placed in the card reader 1 . Then, as the CPU in the card reader 1 receives the trigger signal and accordingly sends a driving signal to the drive motor 11 , the inserted card is drawn in (transferred). Subsequently, the inserted card is transferred toward a back-end of the card path 2 (toward a right end in FIG. 1 ) by means of the drive rollers 14 d to 14 f.
  • the lever 6 and the micro switch 7 constitute an example of “a card position detecting sensor” for detecting a position of the inserted card, and work as a switch for detecting that the card has been inserted.
  • a card position detecting sensor for detecting a position of the inserted card
  • the lever 6 a part of which protrudes into the card path 2 , comes into contact with the inserted card so that the lever 6 is shifted down in a lower direction in FIG. 1 .
  • the micro switch 7 detects the mechanical motion of the lever 6 .
  • the micro switch 7 transmits a detection signal to the CPU in the card reader 1 to notify that the mechanical motion of the lever 6 has been detected. In accordance with the detection signal, the CPU notices the presence of the inserted card.
  • the lever 6 and the micro switch 7 can also be used to measure the length of the inserted card as well.
  • Each of the photo sensors 8 a to 8 e is a optical sensor including a combination of a light emitting element and a light receiving element.
  • a light beam emitted from the light emitting element is intercepted by a magnetic stripe formed on a surface of the card for detecting a presence of the card.
  • any of magnetic sensors and ultrasonic sensors as the photo sensors 8 a to 8 e .
  • sensitivity of magnetic sensors is affected by the surrounding magnetic environment, and sensitivity of ultrasonic sensors is affected by temperature and humidity of the surrounding environment. Therefore, it is preferable to use optical sensors that are not affected under those conditions.
  • infrared ray sensors may as well be used as the sensors.
  • the photo sensors 8 a to 8 e can function as an example of “card position detecting sensors” for detecting a position of the inserted card (It is also possible to assume that only the photo sensors 8 a to 8 e are an example of “card position detecting sensors”).
  • the IC contact block mechanism 9 operates when the inserted card is an IC card.
  • the IC contact block mechanism 9 includes IC contacts 9 b placed along the card path 2 , which are able to come in contact with a metal terminal (an external terminal) placed on a surface of the IC card.
  • a metal terminal an external terminal
  • the magnetic head 10 located in the card path 2 carries out its operation when the inserted card is a magnetic card. Then, the magnetic head 10 reads and write magnetic data while contacting with and sliding on the magnetic stripe formed on the card surface.
  • the IC contact block mechanism 9 mounted on the card reader 1 has a construction including a contact block 9 a that comes in contact with the external terminal placed on the card surface of the inserted card (the IC card) for sending and receiving information.
  • the IC contact block mechanism 9 includes: the IC contacts 9 b assembled into the contact block 9 a for coming into contact with the external terminal; a rotary arm 9 c that makes the IC contacts 9 b contact with and detached from the external terminal; and a drive source (actuator) 9 d that makes the rotary arm 9 c rotate around a shaft 9 f.
  • the drive source 9 d linearly reciprocates a plunger 9 e connected to the rotary arm 9 c for driving the rotary arm 9 c .
  • the plunger 9 e is biased in a protruding direction by a coil spring so as to make the contact block 9 a detached from the inserted card when a solenoid assembled in the drive source 9 d is not energized.
  • solenoid assembled in the drive source 9 d is energized
  • the rotary arm 9 c rotates around the shaft 9 f so as to make the contact block 9 a come close to the inserted card.
  • the IC contacts 9 b assembled in the contact block 9 a includes 2 lines of wedge-shaped springs that are placed according to the standard specifications of the IC card. Being laid out in a direction perpendicular to the transfer direction of the inserted card, the IC contacts 9 b are made of a material that can bend under the condition where the IC contacts 9 b come in contact with the inserted card. One end of each IC contact 9 b is soldered to a control circuit board placed in the IC contact block mechanism 9 so as to be electrically connected to the control circuit board. Thus, it becomes possible to read (reproduce) electronic data saved in the inserted card (IC card) and to write (record) new electronic data into the inserted card (IC card).
  • the magnetic head 10 includes at least one couple of magnetic cores that are placed face to face each other over a magnetic gap (a gap spacer); wherein one magnetic core is wound with a regeneration coil and the other magnetic core is wound with a recording coil, and then the head slides on and moves along the inserted card.
  • a gap spacer a gap spacer
  • the drive rollers 14 d to 14 f rotated by the drive motor 11 are individually coupled with driven rollers 14 a to 14 c for holding the inserted card between them.
  • the driven rollers 14 a to 14 c are biased against the drive rollers 14 d to 14 f , respectively.
  • the driven rollers 14 a to 14 c are biased against the drive rollers 14 d to 14 f , respectively, in a direction from an upper side of the card path 2 so as to contact with a top surface of the inserted card.
  • magnetic data to be read or written by the magnetic head described above is recorded in a magnetic stripe prepared on a card, to be inserted, by means of printing or the like. Therefore, the magnetic stripe and the magnetic head 10 face each other in the card path 2 .
  • the photo sensors 8 a , 8 b , and 8 e are placed in the same straight line together with the magnetic head 10 in the card transfer direction, as shown in FIG. 1 . Therefore, the photo sensors 8 a , 8 b , and 8 e are placed at their positions where the magnetic stripe passed through in the card path 2 .
  • the card position can be recognized by means of detecting the magnetic stripe by the photo sensors 8 a , 8 b , and 8 e since a magnetic stripe is formed on the card surface. Details of this operation are described in [Processing Method of Card Reader] to be found later.
  • the photo sensors 8 a and 8 b of a group including the lever 6 and the photo sensors 8 a to 8 e listed as “card position detecting sensors” are positioned at a side closer to the card insertion slot 3 , into which a card is inserted, with reference to the position of the magnetic head 10 .
  • the photo sensor 8 e is positioned at a side further away from the magnetic head 10 toward a downstream in the transfer direction (namely, at the right side in FIG. 2 ), with reference to the position of the magnetic head 10 .
  • the card position can be detected appropriately. As described above, details of this operation are also explained in [Processing Method of Card Reader].
  • An assumption includes the following conditions: namely, the magnetic head 10 reproduces/records data from/to the magnetic stripe on the card inserted through the card insertion slot 3 ; the inserted card is transferred through the card path 2 by means of the drive rollers 14 d to 14 f driven by the drive motor 11 ; and the position of the inserted card is detected according to detection signals from the plurality of photo sensors 8 a to 8 e , for controlling the transfer operation.
  • the photo sensors 8 a to 8 e consists of: the photo sensors 8 a , 8 b , and 8 e that are placed in a line through which the magnetic stripe passes; and the photo sensors 8 c and 8 d that are placed in the proximity of the magnetic head 10 .
  • the operation continues; while, by using a detection signal from any one of the magnetic head 10 and the photo sensors 8 c and 8 d placed in the proximity of the magnetic head 10 , it is judged that the inserted card is a normal card.
  • the card reader 1 when it is judged that the inserted card is a normal card, the card reader 1 reads magnetic data saved in the card and writes new magnetic data into the card by means of making the magnetic head 10 contact with and slide on the magnetic stripe on the surface of the inserted card. Meanwhile, when the inserted card is an IC card, the card reader 1 reads electronic data saved in the IC card and writes new electronic data into the IC card by means of making the IC contacts 9 b come in contact with the metal terminal (external terminal) on the surface of the IC card.
  • the inserted card is a non-standardized transparent card or a normal card, wherein a card having a partially-transparent part is deemed as a non-standardized transparent card. Then, the judgment information is maintained until a next taking-in operation starts, and an algorithm for an internal operation including card transfer operation in the period is independently kept according to the judgment result.
  • an algorithm as usual is executed in the case of a normal card; while an operation in compliance with a non-standardized transparent card is executed in the case of a non-standardized transparent card, the operation being discussed later (Refer to flowcharts shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 to be described later). Therefore, even when a non-standardized transparent card is inserted, the operation can be carried out without any problem (the operation continues).
  • the magnetic head 10 is used as not only a measure of taking in a magnetic signal but also a sensor for judging the presence of the card. Details of the processing method of the card reader is explained below with reference to FIGS. 3 to 6 .
  • FIGS. 3(A)-3(C) are timing charts that show turn-on timing of a detection signal of each sensor.
  • FIGS. 4( a )- 4 ( k ) show transfer motion of a card practically moving through the card path 2 .
  • SW 1 is a card position detecting sensor for recognizing that a customer has inserted a card, and the switch corresponds to the lever 6 in FIG. 1 .
  • photo sensors, PDf, PDr, Pdi, PD 2 , and PD 3 correspond to the photo sensors 8 a , 8 b , 8 c , 8 d , and 8 e shown in FIG. 1 , respectively, being all optical sensors. Relationships in an layout of these sensors are as FIG. 3(A) shows.
  • FIG. 3(B) shows a normal card (such as a card having no transparent part and a standardized transparent card)
  • the rollers start rotating operation in a direction for taking the card into the card reader 1 (in the backward direction: toward the right side in FIGS. 3(A)-3(C) ).
  • the presence of the inserted normal card is detected by PDf and PDr.
  • taking-in (reading) operation of magnetic signals starts.
  • the taking-in operation of magnetic signals and transfer operation come to an end.
  • the inserted card passing PDi and PD 2 can be detected.
  • PDi and PD 2 are placed in the proximity of the magnetic head 10 , and are not placed over the magnetic stripe of the inserted card. Therefore, in the case of a non-standardized transparent card, a light beam passes through a transparent part at PDi and PD 2 so that the inserted card passing cannot be detected sometimes. In such a case, a conventional card reader judges that a non-standardized transparent card has been inserted or a card has been taken out, so that an error handling operation such as a forcible ejecting operation is executed.
  • the card reader 1 in a case where a card must have been transferred up to PDi and PD 2 but the card cannot be detected there, or when a card has been once detected at PDi and PD 2 but it is judged that the card has disappeared at PDi and PD 2 , the card is judged to be “a non-standardized transparent card.” Then, if once the card is detected to be “a non-standardized transparent card” at the time of taking in the card, operation is controlled afterward on the assumption that PDi and PD 2 do not work properly.
  • the card reader 1 carries out operation as usual. Then, explanation on such a case herewith is omitted.
  • Magnetic signals being sent cyclically from the magnetic head 10 means that a card exists in the proximity of the magnetic head 10 ; and it is possible to judge that the card is “a standardized transparent card” when no card is detected at PDi and PD 2 even though the magnetic head 10 keeps on sending signals.
  • the card length of the inserted card is calculated by using the SW 1 , PDi, and PD 2 as well as a card transfer distance
  • it is also possible to calculate the card length for example, by using a piece of information according to magnetic signals from SW 1 and the magnetic head 10 , that the card arrives at the head of the magnetic head 10 , and the card transfer distance.
  • FIG. 3(C) and FIGS. 4( a )- 4 ( k ) illustrate the condition of detection signals from the sensors in a case where “a non-standardized transparent card” is inserted. Symbols (a) to (k) in both the figures are corresponding to each other.
  • time intervals expressed with vertical stripes correspond to periods for which no response is made for “a non-standardized transparent card.”
  • detection signals may not be obtained from PDi and PD 2 . Therefore, in the present embodiment; used for detecting the card position is a magnetic signal obtained from the magnetic head 10 , which is placed in a straight line together with PDf, PDr, and PD 3 , wherein the magnetic signal turns on and off almost at the same time as the detection signals from PDi and PD 2 .
  • FIGS. 5 and 6 are a flowchart showing a workflow of the processing method of the card reader 1 according to the embodiment.
  • “PDa”, “PDb”, and “PDc” are equivalent to PDf, PDi, and PD 3 , respectively (“PDa” may be considered to be equivalent to PDr according to circumstances).
  • Step S 1 the CPU of the card reader 1 determines whether SW 1 (the lever 6 ) has turned on or not, for judging whether a customer has inserted a card or not.
  • SW 1 the lever 6
  • Step S 2 the drive rollers 14 d to 14 f start their rotating operation (Step S 2 ) by using the turn-on condition as a trigger.
  • Step S 3 the card transfer operation starts and Timer-1 of the CPU of the card reader 1 gets set (Step S 4 ).
  • Step S 5 the CPU of the card reader 1 determines whether PDb has turned on or not.
  • Step S 5 a case where a card has been inserted but PDb does not turn on despite a fact that detecting a magnetic signal out of the magnetic head 10 for the inserted card has started (Step S 5 : NO and Step S 6 : YES)
  • the CPU sets “flagging for a non-standardized transparent card” in a memory area, such as a RAM (Step S 9 in FIG. 6 ).
  • Step S 5 if PDb has turned on (Step S 5 : YES), “flagging for a non-standardized transparent card” is not set, operation progresses to Step S 10 in FIG. 6 . Meanwhile, if PDb does not turn on and detecting a magnetic signal out of the magnetic head 10 does not start (Step S 5 : NO and Step S 6 : NO), it is checked whether Timer-1 set at Step S 4 (for example to be 2 seconds) has become 0 or not (Step S 7 ). If Timer-1 has become 0 (Step S 7 : YES), it is determined that a jam has happened (Step S 8 ) and then the taking-in operation quits.
  • Step S 4 for example to be 2 seconds
  • the card may be forcibly ejected, or may be held inside the card reader 1 until a serviceman comes up, or the card may be sent to a higher-level device internal through the card reader 1 .
  • Timer-2 (of the CPU of the card reader 1 ) is set (Step S 10 ). Then, the CPU determines whether or not PDb has turned off (Step S 11 ). If PDb has turned off (Step S 11 : YES), “flagging for a non-standardized transparent card” is set in a memory area, such as a RAM (Step S 12 ). The flagging means that there exists a non-standardized transparent card.
  • Step S 11 if PDb has turned on (Step S 11 : NO), the card is not a non-standardized transparent card, and it is handled as a normal card.
  • an algorithm in a conventional way is carried out. Such a process (operation) of the algorithm is widely known, and explanation on it herewith is omitted.
  • Step S 14 it is judged whether or not PDc has turned on (Step S 13 ). If PDc has not turned on (Step S 13 : NO and Step S 14 : YES), it is determined that there has happened a phenomenon of the card stalled (so-called jamming) around at a middle section of the device (Step S 15 ). Then, the taking-in operation quits. As to a step that follows after the taking-in operation quits, the same explanation as described above is applied.
  • Step S 16 a transfer distance is specified (Step S 16 ) and the inserted card is transferred for the specified distance. After the card is transferred for the specified distance (Step S 17 : YES), it is determined that the transfer of the card has completed, and then the drive motor 11 stops (Step S 18 ) and taking-in the card comes to an end (Step S 19 ).
  • PDb turns off.
  • the card length can be calculated. On this occasion; if the card length ‘Len’ is determined to meet a condition of a card with a card length shorter than the distance from PDa to PDb, it is judged that a short card with an insufficient length and then the taking-in operation quits. Furthermore, even in a case of a card that is not determined to be a non-standardized transparent card, a status of PDb is watched continuously.
  • detecting an off-status of PDb also results in a determination of ‘a non-standardized transparent card’ (a second judgment) (Step S 12 described above).
  • the transparent card in this case is a card including a partially-transparent area.
  • a non-standardized transparent card in this case is defined as a card with which presence of the card can be correctly determined at PDa and PDc, but the sensor PDb, being located in the proximity of the magnetic head 10 for detecting a magnetic signal, cannot correctly determine the presence of the card.
  • the card at least it is possible to control the card transfer operation and to read a magnetic signal from the card, and furthermore the card includes magnetic data already written in it.
  • a normal card being not a non-standardized transparent card, enables all conventional functions so that the control operation afterward is carried out separately according to the determination.
  • a detection signal from PDb is not reliable so that the detection signal cannot be used for controlling the transfer operation afterward.
  • the drive rollers 14 d to 14 f start driving operation and PDb turns on.
  • PDc turns off, and PDa turns on.
  • PDb turns off; and then after transferring for a certain distance, the card stops at a stop position of the front-side location (in the front section). Therefore, the sensor PDb requires working normally, even for stopping the card at the stop position of the front-side location.
  • the card starts its transfer operation from the back-side location, and subsequently PDa turns on afterward, and then the stop position of the front-side location is determined according to a transfer distance from timing of PDa switched from off-state to on-state.
  • jamming a phenomenon of the card stalled as an error condition inside the device, for example, around at a middle section of the device.
  • the card is involved in the jam around at a middle section of the device.
  • all the sensors do not recognize the card under the condition and the card seems not to exist in the device so that no further operation can be carried out.
  • the device under the condition it is still possible for the device under the condition to take in a next card because no card existing is recognized.
  • controlling by using PDb is indispensably necessary, it must be exclusive controlling, being separated from treatment of a non-standardized transparent card.
  • a non-standardized transparent card for which PDb does not work normally, such handling cannot be materialized, and therefore a command for such handling must be excluded before it is executed (for example, by returning “in-executable” as an error code).
  • a start position for writing magnetic data is specified with a transfer distance from timing of an end of the card passing through PDb while the card being transferred. Therefore, a command for such handling must also be excluded before it is executed. Thus, while some commands must be indispensably excluded, other commands executable in a certain possible extent are operated in a normal way. Incidentally, the determination on a non-standardized transparent card remains to be effective until a next card is inserted.
  • the photo sensor 8 c that constitutes PDb is located in the proximity of the magnetic head 10 . This is because recognizing a correct position of a non-standardized transparent card is needed for writing magnetic data recorded in a magnetic stripe on the card (The further the photo sensor 8 c is located away from the magnetic head 10 , the more the correction processing for recording magnetic data is needed).
  • the magnetic head 10 is used instead. Therefore, only software-wise handling without adding any hardware enables the operation, and accordingly an increase of production costs can be avoided.
  • the present embodiment does not require any modification at the card side so that collecting the card for modification is not needed, and therefore the present invention provides a device and an operation method thereof that are higher in practicality.
  • the photo sensors 8 a and 8 b are placed at a side of the card insertion slot 3 with reference to the position of the magnetic head 10
  • the photo sensor 8 e is placed at a side of the downstream in the transfer direction with reference to the position of the magnetic head 10 . Therefore, regardless of whether a non-standardized transparent card is transferred from the front-side of the device or back-side of the same, a position of the non-standardized transparent card can be detected appropriately.
  • the photo sensors 8 a , 8 b , and 8 e are placed in the same straight line together with the magnetic head 10 .
  • a card position can be detected by making use of a magnetic stripe on a surface of the card.
  • optical sensors which are not likely affected by surrounding environments, are placed in the same straight line together with the magnetic head 10 in the card transfer direction. Then, by throwing a light beam emitted from a light emitting element in a vertical direction onto the magnetic stripe, it becomes possible to accurately detect the card position.
  • the magnetic head 10 and a sensor S 2 are prepared, being separate from each other.
  • these two elements may be integrated as a single unit (a magnetic head equipped with a sensor).
  • the card reader according to the present invention is useful for its performance to flexibly deal with diversification of customer needs, being able to continue operation to a certain limited extent even when a non-standardized transparent card is inserted.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Artificial Intelligence (AREA)
  • Computer Vision & Pattern Recognition (AREA)
  • Conveying Record Carriers (AREA)
  • Recording Or Reproducing By Magnetic Means (AREA)
US12/666,194 2008-03-31 2009-03-31 Card reader and processing method thereof Expired - Fee Related US8851377B2 (en)

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JP2008092916 2008-03-31
JP2008-092916 2008-03-31
PCT/JP2009/001478 WO2009122715A1 (ja) 2008-03-31 2009-03-31 カードリーダ及びその処理方法

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JP3148316B2 (ja) 1991-12-27 2001-03-19 株式会社徳力本店 銀−塩化銀電極およびその製造方法
US8534555B1 (en) * 2012-05-15 2013-09-17 Cypress Semiconductor Corporation Reconfiguration of a card reader for wake-on-swipe
JP5648024B2 (ja) * 2012-07-10 2015-01-07 日本電産サンキョー株式会社 カードリーダ
JP5919171B2 (ja) * 2012-11-15 2016-05-18 日立オムロンターミナルソリューションズ株式会社 手動式カードリーダ
JP6121300B2 (ja) * 2013-09-26 2017-04-26 日本電産サンキョー株式会社 カードリーダ
WO2016069783A1 (en) * 2014-10-28 2016-05-06 Poynt, Co. Low-profile card reader
JP6446338B2 (ja) * 2015-07-08 2018-12-26 日本電産サンキョー株式会社 カードリーダ
WO2017030165A1 (ja) * 2015-08-19 2017-02-23 日本電産サンキョー株式会社 カードリーダおよび磁気情報記録媒体処理装置
JP6527096B2 (ja) 2016-03-31 2019-06-05 日本電産サンキョー株式会社 磁気ヘッドおよび磁気記録媒体処理装置
JP6893445B2 (ja) * 2017-06-28 2021-06-23 日本電産サンキョー株式会社 カードリーダ
CN112053704B (zh) * 2020-09-01 2021-06-01 全南群英达电子有限公司 一种薄膜感应磁头的磁灵敏度检测装置及其实施方法
JP2024042547A (ja) * 2022-09-15 2024-03-28 ニデックインスツルメンツ株式会社 カード位置決め方法及びカードリーダ

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US20110084138A1 (en) 2011-04-14
JP5648173B2 (ja) 2015-01-07
CN101960524A (zh) 2011-01-26
WO2009122715A1 (ja) 2009-10-08
EP2264709A4 (en) 2013-01-02
CN101960524B (zh) 2012-08-15
EP2264709A1 (en) 2010-12-22
EP2264709B1 (en) 2018-08-01

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